Our view: Never forget veterans’ sacrifices

Thirty-six years ago today, North Vietnamese troops entered Saigon, toppling the South Vietnamese government and bringing an end to the Vietnam War.

Thirty-six years ago today, North Vietnamese troops entered Saigon, toppling the South Vietnamese government and bringing an end to the Vietnam War.

It was a long and costly war in terms of lives lost and lives changed. More than 50,000 American troops, 400,000 South Vietnamese and more than 900,000 North Vietnamese were killed. Another 150,000 American troops were wounded, and it’s estimated that more than 10,000 lost arms and legs.

Most of those veterans are productive members of society today — and some others still struggle.

It is good to remember these anniversaries, because when we fail to learn from lessons of the past, we are more likely to make the same mistakes in the future.

It’s also important to be reminded that there are young men and women willing to make the sacrifices needed to defend all that we hold dear — in the past, and still today.

During the war, there were nightly broadcasts on television and daily reports in newspapers about the battles being waged and the price being paid in those fights. Flag-draped funerals were held across the country, and our streets and college campuses were often filled with anti-war protests.

Not as prevalent

We don’t see that as much today. In fact, it’s easy to go days, weeks and sometimes months without ever giving any thought to the fact that we are engaged in wars today, that sacrifices are still being made on a daily basis.

There will be a small ceremony at 1 p.m. this afternoon at the monuments on Chelsea Parade to pay tribute and remember those from our area who fought in that war. We should never forget them or any of the others, past or present.